impact

1 of 2

noun

im·​pact ˈim-ˌpakt How to pronounce impact (audio)
plural impacts
1
a
: an impinging or striking especially of one body against another
b
: a forceful contact or onset
also : the impetus communicated in or as if in such a contact
2
: the force of impression of one thing on another : a significant or major effect
the impact of science on our society
a study outlining the potential environmental impacts of the construction project

impact

2 of 2

verb

im·​pact im-ˈpakt How to pronounce impact (audio)
impacted; impacting; impacts

transitive verb

1
a
: to have a direct effect or impact on : impinge on
b
: to strike forcefully
also : to cause to strike forcefully
2
a
: to fix firmly by or as if by packing or wedging
b
: to press together

intransitive verb

1
: to have an impact
often used with on
2
: to impinge or make contact especially forcefully

Did you know?

Is impact a verb?

You may occasionally run into claims that impact is not a verb, or that it is somehow ill-suited to a role in this part of speech. Not only is that not the case, but the verb form of impact is much older than the noun form. It is possible that the word started attracting more displeasure when it began being widely used in a figurative sense as a transitive verb ("we expect the recession to impact the company"). The word is certainly a verb, although before using it in this manner in writing it is worth considering your audience, and whether members of it are likely to consider this use problematic.

Choose the Right Synonym for impact

impact, collision, shock, concussion mean a forceful, even violent contact between two or more things.

impact may be used to imply contact between two things, at least one of which is impelled toward the other.

the glass shattered on impact with the floor

collision implies the coming together of two or more things with such force that both or all are damaged or their progress is severely impeded.

the collision damaged the vehicle

shock often denotes the effect produced by a collision and carries the suggestion of something that strikes or hits with force.

the shock of falling rocks

concussion when not in technical use, often suggests the shattering, disrupting, or weakening effects of a collision, explosion, or blow.

bystanders felt the concussion of the blast

Examples of impact in a Sentence

Noun No one could have survived such an impact. These warnings have been heard so often that they have lost their impact. The book had a huge impact when it first came out. We need to be concerned about the environmental impacts of all this construction. She expects to make an immediate impact at work. Verb No one is sure how these changes will impact our relations with other countries. Both events negatively impacted her life. The tax increase will impact low-income families the most. The poor economy is impacting on small businesses. A crater was formed at the point where the meteor impacted the planet's surface.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Leadership also worried about videos sucking people away from engaging with comments, even though the new products were having a positive impact on sales. Paresh Dave, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024 Lawson knows firsthand the impact that playing in soil and being exposed to greenery can have on one’s wellness. Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 The development highlights the impact the war in Gaza is having on companies doing business in the Middle East. Krystal Hur, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 That triggered a lawsuit from environmentalists, who are concerned about the massive rocket’s impact on the surrounding area. Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 His father, a financier, passed on to him a love of soccer, and the athletic uniforms of the ’80s and ’90s had an impact on Aka’s personal style. Nicole Demarco Dalya Benor Caitie Kelly Juan A. Ramírez Monica Mendal Janet Siroto, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Dozens of writers shared similar experiences with the FTC last year in support of revisions to merger guidelines that signal a tougher stance on vertical transactions and, for the first time, take into account a merger’s impact on workers. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 The foundation representing the interests of the social club claimed city officials failed to properly assess the impact the project would have on historic structures in the area. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 Beyond its impact on the housing market, climate change is already influencing where people live. Alain Sherter, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2024
Verb
That’s a new career peak for Ricki-Lee, whose albums have all impacted the ARIA top 40, with Fear & Freedom (from 2012) her previous best at No. 7. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024 Here’s how Trump’s indictment could impact the 2024 election. Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 With the campaign season heating up, the president has made intimate conversations with families and small groups to discuss policy matters most impacting their lives a set part of his travels around the country. Joey Cappelletti, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 What Alex Proyas did with the Crow in 1994—and Brandon Lee's iconic embodiment of that character—will forever impact that generation and others to follow. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 14 Mar. 2024 These ballot initiatives will impact entire regions as people living in the most restrictive states seek care elsewhere. USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024 This year's legislative session saw many new laws signed that could directly impact Hoosier students. Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Mar. 2024 Hearing what an entire family goes through when a child is struggling really impacted me. Nicole Pajer, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 Issues with access to clean drinking water also disproportionately impact low-income US communities and those of color, according to the non-profit National Resources Defense Council. Dakin Andone, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impact.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin impactus, past participle of impingere to push against — more at impinge

First Known Use

Noun

1781, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1601, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of impact was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near impact

Cite this Entry

“Impact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impact. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

impact

1 of 2 verb
im·​pact im-ˈpakt How to pronounce impact (audio)
1
: to have a strong effect on
volcanic ash impacted weather conditions worldwide
2
: to hit or cause to hit with force

impact

2 of 2 noun
im·​pact ˈim-ˌpakt How to pronounce impact (audio)
1
: a striking together of two bodies : collision
2
: a forceful effect
the impact of pollution on the environment

More from Merriam-Webster on impact

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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